Volcanoes Offense Struggles Again; Drop to 0-3

Over the past two games, Salem-Keizer has left 18 runners on base.

Shilo McCall (two hits, double) was the lone bright spot in an otherwise stagnant Salem-Keizer offense. Photo Courtesy: Salem-Keizer Volcanoes

(KEIZER, Ore. ) - The Salem-Keizer Volcanoes entered Sunday night's game searching for their first lead of the 2014 season. After another game against the defending champion Vancouver Canadians, the Volcanoes never found what they were looking for.

Vancouver scored two runs in the third inning and three runs in the fifth, all coming with two outs, as the Canadians defeated the Volcanoes 6-1 for their third straight win.

The loss pushed Salem-Keizer to 0-3 on the season, marking just the fourth time in franchise history that the team has gone winless through the first three games.

Perfect through the first eight batters he faced, Gonzalez induced what should have been an inning ending ground out to Will Callaway at third base. The inning continued, however, as the ball deflected off Callaway's chest.

That fielding error proved crucial, as Vancouver proceeded to hit three consecutive singles on its way to a two-run third inning.

The Volcanoes responded in the bottom half of the inning, capitalizing on the lost control of pitcher Miguel Castro.

Having gone the first two innings without issuing a walk, Castro hit Johneshwy Fargas with his first pitch of the inning before walking Hollick on five pitches. Ryan Jones laced a single to right field, loading the bases with nobody out.

Castro struck out Craig Massoni for the first out, but a sacrifice fly by Leo Rojas got the Volcanoes on the board.

Vancouver jumped back on the scoreboard in the fifth inning with yet another two-out rally. Gonzalez got two quick outs to start the inning, but walked Fields to spark a rally.

Jonathan Davis and Franklin Berreto both singled to continue the inning, and both came around to score on a looping single by David Harris down the right field line.

Trailing 5-1, the Volcanoes had a chance to rally in the bottom half of the seventh inning, but Hollick struck out with runners on second and third to end the threat.

The Canadians added an additional run in the eighth to add on in their 6-1 victory.

Tim Mayza got the win in relief for Vancouver, pitching three scoreless innings and striking out three. Gonzalez took the loss, allowing five runs (three earned) in 4.2 innings of work.

The Volcanoes offense once again stalled with runners on base. The team went 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position one night after finishing 2-for-9 in that same situation. Over the past two games, Salem-Keizer has left 18 runners on base.

The four runs for the Volcanoes throughout the past three games also marks a new franchise low for runs scored though the first three games of a season.

Source: Salem-Keizer Volcanoes